The Hazel Green herald. [volume] (Hazel Green, Wolfe County, Ky.) 1885-19??, 1887-12-09

lO'cnI POROUS members OF the royal
family-like the son of Peter the Great
have been cast into this dungeon to
die. under suspicion of disloyalty to
the Car. In natural location it re-
minds one of Blackwell's Island. near
New York, but the latter prison 10 n
palace in co comparison.
The censor of the press, when no
wishes simply TO destroy = certain ar
tlcle in newspaper or magazine. gen.
orally runs roller of black ink over it,
leaving dense spot, through which not
word can be discerned. The instru-
mcnt is like the ink-roller of printing
press II the article in magazine
covers more than page, the pages are
simply torn out and cast into the waste
basket, The office of the censor of the
press in city like St. Petersburg is
something like that of the city editor
for large American newspaper. The
corps of assistants open the mails, run
through the matter and hand the ques-
tionable stuff to the censor. who de-
cides if it should be detained, DESTROYED
or passed. This process makes the de-
livery of all mail matter except letters
very slow. The newspapers in Russia
are of very little importance on ac-
count of the censorship. Every article,
even to II local paragraph. discussing
Russian affairs or referring directly or
remotely TO the Emperor OF his family,
the army. navy or any official, al
though it may say that so-and-so is
going to such and such places on n
visit, must be referred to the censor
Editors tell me that their articles are
so long delayed by the censor, even
though he passes favorably upon them,
that it Is not worth while TO attempt
to use political matter or news relating
to any one or any thing connected
with the empire. 1t is not infrcquent
that articles are referred to the Gar
and the author is summoned to appear
before his Exccllcncy and explain the
object of publication. Thus the re-
stiNint of writer's can not be appre-
ciated by any except those who have
had the experience.
There IS lower grade of intelli-
gence in the common people in Russia
than was ever found among the blacks
of America during slavery. The Amer
lean negro had from the very begin
ming. n natural "hOrSe sense" cum
ming which gave him reason. There is
nothing in the minds of the mass of
Russians except that which is carried
by the senses of sight and hearing.
They do not reason. In st. Petersburg
there are thousands of drOsky Gear
riagc) drivers, and am told that not
one in twenty can read the signs along
the streets, and not two in five hun
bred can read book or newspaper.
And yet these men have had. for Rus
STA extraordinary opportunities.
What, then, must BIZ the condition of
the people in the country-those who
have not had contact with the world.
The proportion of these ignorant
people to the intelligent and educated
il about 60 per cent. OF the 100, 0OO,-
ee9 population in Russia about 60, 0OO,-
900 were either among the serfS freed
by Alexander H. quarter of century
ago or are the offs pring of those white
slaves They do not know what Il
school Is, and have learned more alb
iect manners than our black folks. |
have never encountered so much OBJ
sequiousness anywhere. Not only do
the working people pcrpetrate upon
the visitor all sorts of salaams, but
merchants and people in the upper
classes have the infection. and bow and
blink till white free man must blush.
! | expected to find the Russians a
fcrcclooking people. They are the very
opposite. Ferceness must be accom-
panied by u degree of mental sub
stance. , The average Russian one
meets in the streets or in the country
is of medium size. He is of light yell
low tan color, from exposure TO wealth
81 and existence upon coarse food.
Generally he wears full beard. and
four times out of five it is light in
color and very filthy. His hair is about
two inches thick, is cut rs il the work
was done with meat axe or circu-
lar saw, and besides being combed
down in front is slightly parted in the
middle, rs though he were not sure
whether he is male OF female. He in
variably wears high-topped boots. and
his trousers are tucked into the boot
tops. The boot tops have series of
finely artistic wrinkles midway. and
are generally well oiled This is the
only tasteful indication in the dress.
The coat of & peasant is a cross be-
teen a robe, frock and blouse. It